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A2
UP FRONTThursday 24 December 2015
UK Muslim family blocked from boarding plane to Disneyland
GREGORY KATZ
SYLVIA HUI
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — British
Prime Minister David Cam-
eron will look into claims
that U.S. officials prevented of the opposition Labour
a British Muslim family of 11 Party, said Wednesday
from flying to Disneyland for that U.S. officials gave no
a planned holiday.
The issue is sensitive be-
cause U.S. Republican
presidential contender
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Donald Trump has called wrote Cameron seeking his
for a temporary ban on intervention. She said there
Muslims visiting the U.S. due is “growing fear” among
to concerns about extrem- British Muslims that aspects
ist attacks. of Trump’s plans are com-
Stella Creasy, a member ing into practice even
though they have been
widely condemned.
A top Muslim group said
explanation for refusing to cases like this appear to be
allow her constituents to related to religion and are
board a flight from Gatwick worrying for British Muslims.
Airport on Dec. 15, so she Mohammed Zahid Mah-
British Prime Minister David Cameron leaves 10 Downing Street
in London, to go to the Houses of Parliament. Prime Minister Da-
vid Cameron’s office says he will look into a lawmaker’s claim
that U.S. officials prevented a British Muslim family from flying to
Disneyland for a planned holiday on Dec. 15, 2015.
(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
mood said he and his fam- based imam and broad-
ily — two brothers and their caster, said he received
nine children — were told similar treatment when try-
nothing except that they ing to travel to the U.S. for
were not allowed to travel business recently.
to the U.S. despite having He told the AP that a U.S.
previously obtained clear- Embassy official prevented
ance. him from boarding a Dec.
“We were the only family 17 flight and told him his
that was of Asian, Muslim, business visa had been re-
sort of appearance, and it voked.
seemed a little bit embar- He said he had never had
rassing that only we were any problem travelling on
taken out (of the line to that visa before.
board),” he told the BBC. “I asked him why repeat-
Cameron’s office said edly and he said ‘You must
Wednesday that he would have done something
investigate the matter. He wrong,’ without any expla-
had earlier characterized nation,” Masroor said.
Trump’s policy as “divisive He said he feared that U.S.
and wrong.” officials were singling out
A U.S. Customs and Bor- Muslims.
der Protection spokesman “This is absolutely discrimi-
said the “religion, faith or nation. It is not acceptable
spiritual beliefs of an inter- and playing into the hands
national traveler are not of the terrorists,” Masroor
determining factors” when said.
deciding if a person can The Muslim Council of Brit-
travel to the United States. ain also said the last-minute
The spokesman said peo- denial of boarding privileg-
ple can be denied entry for es without explanation is
a variety of reasons includ- distressing for Muslims.
ing health-related issues, “There is a perception that
prior criminal convictions, such decisions are being
security concerns or on mis- made due to the faith or
cellaneous grounds. political activism of individ-
Ajmal Masroor, a London- uals,” the council said.q